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Architects urged to improve quality of services

By Bertram Nwannekanma
30 December 2019   |   4:02 am
To stave off foreign incursion and ensure continuous patronage in housing delivery, architects have been urged to improve the quality of their services to clients.

To stave off foreign incursion and ensure continuous patronage in housing delivery, architects have been urged to improve the quality of their services to clients. They were also asked to reconnect with different segments of the society by forging partnership with various people and bodies so that the society will be a better place for all.

Leading the call at the Lagos Architects Ball 2019 and award ceremony, organised by the Lagos chapter, the new President of Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) Sonny Echono, said the inferior quality of works has remained one of the areas where clients have expressed dissatisfaction for not patronizing architects in Nigeria. Echono, who was elected 29th president of NIA in Abuja, recently, stressed the need for architects to promote the quality of services that they render to clients.

According to him, it is only be improving in the quality of services that clients will remunerate architects appropriately and properly for the services. He said: “When we are talking about the cost benefits analysis, we want the client to see why it is wise not to be penny wise and pound foolish. At the long run, the architect also delivers value,” he added.

Expressing happiness with Lagos chapter for their level of commitment to the ideals of the institute and the welfare and interest of the association, Echonu promised to do his best to meet their obligation first and the society.He also promised to ensure that architects use special skills and knowledge to improve their immediate environment.

Also, the first military architect in Nigeria, Otunba John Asenuga, urged architects to maintain their professionalism, expressing joy that the Lagos chapter, which they formed in the early 70s in Surulere, has continued to maintain its founding tradition.

Earlier, the chairman of the chapter, Fitzgerald Umah pledged that the chapter would continue to show the way and raise the bar.He expressed hope that the emergence of Sonny Echono as the new president for the NIA 60th celebration will take the institute bedeviled with many challenges to a greater height.

On his part, he stressed that the 2019 Lagos Architects Forum recorded a major success, where the chapter were able to get affordable housing solution sent to Sterling Bank for implementation. Umah, who was recently elected as NIA chairman, library and publication, regretted that they are still waiting for the Lagos State government for land to start the housing programme.

He also stressed that the chapter is trying to focus the members on the issue of technical training. We were in Paris, Vienne and Italy, all to realize the need to ensure that our members are also part of best practices in the country and the world at large.He said: ” We have tried our best to ensure that we refocus the chapter. As we all know in October 14, we inaugurated the first branch in the chapter and we pray that by next year February, we shall be inaugurating the Ikeja branch”, he added.

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